FLINT, MI -- A Flint woman was sentenced to prison for
her role in the stabbing death of 22-year-old DeMarkus
Barnett.

Marjani Abdur-Rahman, 24, a friend of Barnett's
ex-girlfriend, was sentenced Monday, Dec. 16, by Genesee Circuit Judge Judith
A. Fullerton to seven years, six months to 15 years in prison after she
pleaded no contest to manslaughter for the December 2012 death of Barnett.

Abdur-Rahman was initially charged with open murder and
faced up to life in prison if convicted.

Barnett, 22, was found
unresponsive from a stab wound to the chest around 2 a.m. Dec. 9, 2012, in
the parking lot of a car wash on Robert T. Longway Boulevard near Averill
Avenue. He was later pronounced dead.

"There was
a self-defense issue in this case," said Special Assistant Genesee County Prosecutor John Potbury. "The defendant's position was that she
was protecting her friend but ultimately, her actions crossed the line."

DeMarkus BarnettCourtesy

Ashely Herrera, Barnett's ex-girlfriend who was with
Abdur-Rahman the night of Barnett's death, testified during an April 15
preliminary exam that Abdur-Rahman stabbed Barnett following an argument
outside a Flint nightclub.

Herrera testified that she, Abdur-Rahman and a third
friend were at the club on the 3000 block of Robert T. Longway when they saw
Barnett.

"He tried to come and say 'Hi,'" Herrera
testified, adding that Barnett grabbed her arm. Abdur-Rahman responded by
pushing Barnett away, the woman said. Barnett again approached the women
outside of the club as they left. Herrera testified Abdur-Rahman punched
Barnett.

After the punch, Herrera said she, Abdur-Rahman and their
friend went to their car to leave the club. Herrera testified that Barnett pulled
up next to them in his own vehicle, began arguing with Abdur-Rahman and
threatened to pull a gun on her. Herrera testified that Barnett was known to
regularly carry a gun.

"(Abdur-Rahman) kept telling me I shouldn't be
talking to him," Herrera testified, adding that Abdur-Rahman believed that
Barnett abused her during their relationship. Herrera denied there was any
physical abuse.

Both Barnett and Abdur-Rahman drove away from the club
without incident, Herrera testified.

But, not long later, Herrera said Abdur-Rahman spotted
Barnett's car at the car wash and she pulled in next to him. Abdur-Rahman
allegedly got out of her car with a knife and began arguing with Barnett.

Abdur-Rahman then stabbed Barnett in the chest, according
to Herrera.

Herrera, Abdur-Rahman and their friend left the carwash
believing that Barnett was injured but still alive. Barnett died from his
injuries.

Stacy Muter of Columbiaville has a toddler son with
Barnett and the two were dating for about three years before his death. Muter
said he was a social person who had many friends.

"My son can't even talk and (when he does) he's
going to be asking about his dad," Muter previously told The Flint Journal.
"What am I supposed to tell him? Just some random person killed him for
nothing?"